Ice-making apparatus.



J. B. HOWE.

ICE MAKING APPARATUS,

APPLICATION HLBD MAR. 29, 1910.

969,696; Patented sept. 8.1910.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET l.

, KWW zy f W J. B. HOWE. ICE MAKING APPARATUS. APPLICATION PILFYD MAR29. 1910.

Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHET 2.

we (S6 66'.

B. HOW. ICE MKING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILD MAR. 29, 1910.

969,696 -Patented Sept. 6,1910.

v 3 SHEETS-SEEET 3.

PA'rn'r FFICE.

JOHN B. HO'WE, OF NASHVILLE, rENNIISSIEE.

w' Ion-MAKING ArPARATUs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratea Sep-az. c, 1910.

Application filcd March 29, 1910. Serial No. 552,206.

To all whom it may concc'rn:

Be it' known that I, JoiiN B. Hown, a citizen of the United States,residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson an'd State ofTennessee. have invented new-and v useful Improvements in Ice-MakingApparatus, of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates to improven'ients in ice making' apparatus and itcomprehends an apparatus for producing ice blocks of certain dimensionsand which is specially constructed with regard to the primaryconsiderations, first, of a convenient, quick and inexpensive iceharvesting operation; second7 of a highly efiicient water circulatingand agitating operation; and third, of a reduction in the expense andtime of successiv freezing Operations.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings', wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved icemaking apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is across sectional view of one of the freezing tanks; Fig'. 3 is alongit-ndinal view of one of the freezing tanks; Fig. 4 is a detailperspect-ive view of a specially constructed inold plate, forming a sideof a mold; Fig. 5 is a similar view of a mold plate for the end of amold; Fig. G is a detail perspective view of an alternative end moldplate construction; Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing analternative arrangement of brine circulating system; and Fig. 8 is adetail perspective view of an alternative mold construction which may beemployed in connection with the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 7.

Similar characters` of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. I

According to the present invention one or more freezing tanks arearranged Withina main tankas 1, which contains a body of watersuflicient for several freezing operations. At one end of the tank 1, aclear space,- as 2, is provided into which the, ice blocks are ioatedfrom the freezing tanks and from which they are removed by a suitableconveyer, e. g. an endless belt arrangementv` as 8. The freezing tanksare arranged at the. side of the tank 1 opposite to the harvesting space2. One freezing tank is shown complete, ,as ai'rang'ed at one corner ofthe 'tank 1 andits 'side walls comp'rise anadjacent side wall of thetank 1 and a partition wall, as 4, and its end walls comprise anadjacent end wall of the tank l and a removable wall or bulkhead, as 5.The partition walls -l separate the freezing tanks from one another, andthe removable walls which are preferably vertically slidable in guidesG, separate the freezing tanks from the harvesting space Q. The variouswalls are, of course, suitably constructed with regard to heatinsulation. later to be frozen is admitted from the harvesting' space 2to the several freezinl tanks and therein is formed into blocksof ice bya plnrality of specially constructed inolds, which will now bedescribed. The side walls of the ice block molds consist of plates, as7, which are disposed longitudinally of the freezing tanks and the endwalls ofthe ice block molds 'onsist of plates, as S, which are disposedtransversely of the freezing tanks. plates 7 are arranged in pairs, theplates of each pair having a somewhat close association to provide fornarrow channels, as 9, between the molds. The two plates thns defining achannel 9, also constitute adjacent side walls for the two adjacentmolds.

In addition to the'plates 7 and 8, the molds 'are provided with bottoinplates, as 10. For reinforcing purposes several transverse tie i'ods, as11, are employed which extend transversely of the freezingr tanksbetween the side walls thereof. The bottom plates 10 are supported onthe rods 11, as shown in Fig. 3, and are sui'tably spaced from the adjacent end and side walls of the molds so as to provide forv an efiicientcircu'- lation and agitation of the water 'to be frozen. Beneath thebottom plates 10 and 'the floor of 'the tank 1, channels, as 12,intervene, and through which the water to be frozen circulates, theplates 7 having openings, as 12a, to establishv communication betweenthe Channels 9 and 12. The plates 7 In connection with the lmolds, ahrinc circulating system is employed, the preferred form of which isshown in Figsl, 2 and 3, and is similar fto the system shown in Fig. 5of vthe U. S, patent to.-Havenstrite. No. 938,853; The brinecirculavting system inclndes a main double brine header, as 13, and aplurality of lateral double, brino headare coextensive in length withthe extent of.7 a longitndinal row of molds, and are con-l, structed atintervals to form side walls for); each moldof the aforcsaidlongitndinal r'owltl,

The

ers, asl 14:. `Ars shown, the header 13 is con! manner as shown in theHayenstrite patent referred lo. Within each mold 'a brine circulationbox, as 17, is provided. The boxes- 17 are carried by and pendent fromthe headers 14 and are each forined with a cen-l tral Partition, as 18,affording two' parallel channels, as 19 and 20. Atfthe upper' ends ofeach box 17, nipples, as 21 and 22 are providech rlfhe nipple 21Supplies brine to the channel 19 and the nipple 22 'conducts brinel fromthe channel 20. The lateral hrine headers are similar to the main hrineheader in that they are each provided with an internal conducting tube,The nipples 21 are 'connected directly to the outer tube 'of the lateralheaders let and the nipples are connected to the internal t-ubes.23 ofsaid headers. The lateral head ers are, in turn, connected to the mainheader 16 by a l'lexihle connection, as 24, which joins the outer tubeof the header 13 and. the outer" tube of the lateralheader lt and withinwhich an internal flexihle tube, as 25, to join the internal tuhes 16and 23, is provided.

In use, the brine flows into the outer tube of the header 13 and passesfrom thence into the outer tubes of the headers 14, passing from thencethr'oiigh the nipples 21 and flowing downwardly through the channels 19and upwardly through the Channels 20, learing the latter through thenipples and llo'u'ing into the internal tuhes 22-3' of the lateralheaders, from whence it passes to the internal tuhc 16 of the mainheader, and by said. tuhc 1h is property disposed of in a suitablemanner, c. y., 'in the inanner shown in the llavcnstrite patent refcrredto. j

Durinz the frccziug operation water is caused lo circulalc through thevarious channels of the froezing tanks and through the lmolds, and for`this purposo the olh'm'in Vis fitted. A

milted into the harveetnn'I space is, prlor to arrangcment und`lructural details are einploycd. lnto un lend wall of the tunl 1adjacent the space 2, a Vai'er feedv pipe, as 20,

portion of the water thus adthe freezino` operation, direrted into thefreezing tanim, the removahle walls S being raised for this purposc.ll'hen the free/line,Y tanks are tillcd. the walls are lowered and thefreezing voperation is c'nnnenced`hy causing hrine to '(:iz'culatethrongl'i the :wysA tem and hy simultaneously caueing a continuousagitation and circulation of the in the freezing'tanlzs. For the pni'-,o'zsc o' prolucin,r` this agitation and rirculation, anydcsired-nlea'ns may he onlployed. lfor exanmlc, in Fig. 1, a propcllcr:ii-rangaincnt, 21', has hcen Lehou'n. llach frcezingj tank i,y diridedby a central longitudiual eeaeee partition wall, as 28, into twoSections-A and B, and the water is caused to circulate in one directionthrough one section and nr anopposite direction through the othe' sec-7|t-ion. At some distance from the front end Walls'of the freezing tank,a false end wall,

as 29, is provided, in each instance, and from 4and the cliannels and 12of the section B connnunicate' with the circulation channel or space 30through openings in the wall 29 (Fig. 3), `while the ehannels tt and 12of the vsection A communicate with said circulation channel or spaceonly through the propeller opening. The channels t) lilewisecounnunicate With the interior of the nxolds through .openings, as 31,which are provided in the vplates 7. 111 the emhodunent shown lu Flg.

1, transverse channels, as 32, intervene hetweeirtl-xe adiaccnt plates 8"and the chanue'ls 32 are in open communication with the hottoinvChannels 12 and also with the longitudinal cl'lannels 9, throughopenings, as 323, in the plates 7.

The water is 'caused to circulate by the agitator or propeller 27,through the channels of the section toward the wall and,lowinI aroundthecnd' of the partitiou 28, returns through the channels 5) of thesection B to the cireulation space or channel 30. tncident to the iow ofWater through the Channels t), a continuous|` c'irculation is had on allsider`` of the niolds, the water also fiowing through' the Channels 32and through the channele 12, as well ae within the' interior of theniolds. To induce the circulation of water through the interior of'theinold the plates 7 are| provided with angularly disposedprojcctions, ae' ;-l, which 'extend outwardly into the channehs S) andby which the water is deliected through the` openings 31 and into theinterior space of the niolds. lty will hc observed that the projectionson the plates 7 of the section extend forwardly so as to del'lect thewater as it llows rearwardly and 'the projections on the plates T of theSection ll extend roar` 'ardly so as todefiect. the water as it liowsforwardly.

After the freezing operation has heen completed wariner hrne is passedthrough the hrine circulation hoxee for the }Vurpo,-:c of thau'ing themfree of the ice and said hoxee are then withdrawn from the irc hloclrs,the end plates 8 ero renioved, and the wall ie raised, at which iine theplan-s 7 define uninterrupted longitndinal channels which communicatedirectly with the harvcsting space 2 and through which the -icc hloclteare lioated into the harvcstmg space, being reinoved from the latler hvvthe Between the false end conveyer 3. To facilitate the rem'oval of thebrine circulation boxes 7, the header 13 is disposed at some distaiiceabove the headers lat and is connected to the latter by the flexibleipes 2a and 25 aforesaid. To facilitate tie renioval of the end walls 8.the latter are preferably huiig from the plates 7 and are eacli providedat their upper eiids with oppositely projecting lugs, as 35, which serveas l'iangers and engage iii i'ecesses, as 3.6, cut into the upper edgesof the plates| 7. It is also desii'ed to inaintain a cireulation landagitation of the water during tlie harvestiiig operation aiid for thispurpose one or more agitators, as 37, are provided in tlie harvestingspace 2.

.In Fig. (i an alternative forin of end wall construction for the inoldsis sliown. ccording to this arrangement the piates S are perniaiientlyconnected iii pairs aiid fori'n the walls of a box-like structure, theuse of which may be desired under certainconditions. With thisarrangenient tepid water may be poured into the end boxes to aid iiishowii in Fig. 8 niay be einployed. Iii this construction the bottom orend walls of the molds niay be made integral/or otherwise permanentlyconnected, the 'construction .of the side walls of the inold being thesame as that hei'etofore described.

In 'operation the freezing tanks, having been charged with water in theniannei' explained, the freezing operation is commenced by causing thecirculation of brine through the brine system,l and by causing thecirculat-ion' of water through the various chann'els, as has been setforth. Theblocks are frozen upon the boxes 17 and the freezingloperation is contiiiued until theblocks are of the desired mechantablesize, at which *time the freezing operation is stopped. It

is not proposed to freeze all the water in the vt'anlr's but onlythewater which is Within the molds, Consequently, when the freezingoperation is interrupted, clear water occupiesl the clianiiels 9 andAfter the freezing operation has been completed, the boxes 17 arewithdrawn from the ice blocks. This is' accomplished by liftingthe'headers 14 which carry said boxes, a suitable means t (not shown andwhich forms no part of the present invention) being provided for thispurpose. The end plates 8 and' the bulkhead 5 having been removed', th'water reniaining in the harvesting space 2 mingh's with the clearunfrozen *ater reinaining in the freezingtaiiks at the end of thefreezing operation, and the ice blocks are tt'oated through thelongitudinal channels defined by the plates 7 into the harvesting space,in the manner ex'plained.

The advantagcs of this system are immerous. As has been seen from theforegoing description, it 'provides for a convenient, quick andinexpensive ice harvestiirg ope 1;, tion. This is not only due to thereadiness with which the ice blocks are reinoved from the freezing tanksbut also to the fact that the thawing of'the ice blocks from the wallsof the molds, is effected by the water ad-4 niitted'into tlie freezingtaiiks from the liarvesting space 2 after the freezing operation.

The superiority of this method of thawing the ice blocks from the wallsof the inolds is due to the fact that by using the water in theharvesting space for thispur-pose, it is' unnecessary to inftroduce aWarm liquid into the system. In vtlic known systems the tliawing of theice blocks is Veffected by introducing awarm liquid into the system andthis heats the system and renders 'it iiecessary for the inachinery toremove the surplus heat, before the next freezing operation can befairly started. Not only is the feature of thawing the ice blocks by theWater in the liarvestiiig tank of advantage in that it dispenses with'the necessity of using a Warm liquid for this purpose but it is also ofadvantage in that it provides for a Inaterial lowering` of thetemperature of the water to be employed in the next frcezing operation.This is by reason of the faet that the temperature of the waterremaining in the freezing tanks at the time the freezing operation isinterrupted is already near the freezing 'point and consequeiitly, When.

such Water niingles withthe water in the harvesting space, thetemperature of the latter is reduced. This reduction of teinperature isalso aided by causiiig the ice blocks to float through the harvestingspace.

The water in the hai'vesti'ng space is thus cooled by two mediums, viz.the water remaining in the freezing taiiks at the end` of the freezingoperation, and the ice blocks. Even where the ice blocks are nothai'vested by fioating them through the harvesting space, but by liftingthem from the molds by a suitable crane, the inethod wliicli iseiiiployed in the construction of Fig. -7, the unfrozeiiiwatcr in thefreezing tanks at the end of the freezing operation is very efiicient inlowering the teinperature of the Winter in the harvcsting space. w

The freezing tank construction is particularly eticient in theproduction ofclear,

pure ice, in a minimum period of time' As Jilling plant and itsattenclaii ezpense7 is ehnnnatetl. The construction like 'ise proi,

;nios for a quioler ice freezing operation than had by the staniilarlplate ice ;*ysteni7 since iii each free-Xing tani: there is amultiplieity of hrine cironlating areas arrangecl ah suitableinteri'als, an'fl interrnpting the iistant'e through which the heatunits must pass. ft, follows thai innterially reducing the timi:-reqnired for freezing a 'fi'ii'en qnain'ityv of ice, a material economyot fioor spaoe inny he pra'eticed. Vithai', the. system is ofinexpensive (construction, both as to the structure of the various partsini'olvetl anii as to their assenihlage.

liaring fiillzi' (lesrriheil in)v ini'ention, i (ila ini l. n iremaking1 apparatns (foniprising a niain tank liai'ingz a water rontaininghari'iisting' spzn'e :it onn einl tlnireo'f, a rlfrig'er- 'i tank at onosiilo of the liari'esting ,a :a nlates ilisiios'erl lnngitniliiialliv inthe :i nl ilotininnj interwninj ('haniiels hutivvon 1i'iennihls ainlwith whiih the ninhls are in roninnniiration` phitiis ilisposeiliransversely ainl i'i'niovalili' hetweiin the longitiniinal patna tot'oi'ni innhl enil walls` a reniovahle hnlhheizn iii siiparati* therefrigei'atingtank i'i'nni the hai'wsling sparii (hiring` thell'reozing' operation. :i hi'ine ('ii'riilating system inrlinling hoxiisii'hii'li are ilisposed in the ninhls` ainl npon ii'hii'h lliv irehlorlizs anl l'i'nziiin ainl lin-ans' 'l`ni' i'aiisintv a. rirrnlalionnt water iii the nia-in tank.

fin ire making' apparzitns ronipris'iiii` a niain tanl; having' a watiir('nnlaining hari'vsting' pacn at oni' vnfi tlniriioi :irnl'i'ig'iiratingf tanli' at one siihi of the hari'nsting' inn'ii.iihitrs, li '].;'nl ln} 'it|ilinall in the rei'i'igwraiinf.: tank to'l'm'ni ninhl .siih` walls and iieiinin'i' niiirvi'ning 'h:innilshr'lii'evn the niohls ainl with wliii'h l(hix niohla are in('oniinnniratiun` plates (liaposiiil transi'iii'selji' :mil rrninvahlybetween the hingitinlinal iilates to t'oi'in niiihl ('inl walls. areinorahle halltheinl to snpai'ate the reifrig'ei'zitin; r tank from thehari'i'sting apare (linia;` the freozing operation. :i hrine('iri'fnlating system inrhnling alei'atahle hoxvs whirh are (lisposfllin the niohls ainl. nf'on whirli the ii'e hlnr'ls l i'erig'erating tankto toi'in niohl snhi walls are frozen, md means for cansing a.circnlation of watr' in the main tank.

An ice making apparatus comprising a, main tank havingr a watercontaining' hari'esting' space at one end thereofl` a. i'efrgeratingtank at one side of the harvesting Space, plates (lisposedlongitnclinally in the refrigei'ating tank to form n'iolfil. side Wallsantl tlefining' interifening Channels between the nioria. plates(lisposed transversely and reniovahly between 'the longitnilinal platesto fin'ni inohl einl walls, the longitudinal plates having npenings toaffortl c0rnrnunieation between the interior' of ,each inoltl and theinteri'ening` Channels ani'l having projections :nljacent the openingsto Clefiectwater therethrough into the niolfls, a renioi'ahloliiilkheatl. t soparate the rezfrigerzit-- inf; tank from the harvestingSpace (luring the l'rcezing operation, ay brine cirf'iilating systemini'hitlinz hoxes which are (lisposed in the nnihls anilnpon which theice hlocks are t'i'azen. ainl means for ('ansing' a ('ironlitinn ofwater iii the niain tank.

i. fin iri' making apparatns romprising a main tank having` a waterL'ontaining h`ar-- Yi'siing .share at mie end thereof, a refrigerinni;Atank ;ii Une side of the lni'ifesting spamu platea (liapasci'llong'itiulinaliy in the i'1'i'i 'i'aiiii tank to forni niolri side Walls;mil ili'tiaing interi'ening channols between ihii niohls anil ii'ithwhich the niolds are in raninianiva'iion. i'hites associated as pairs:iinl dispnsiwl ii'ansi'ersely lniiwiii'n 'the long'itinlinal plateS toform niohl i'n'l walls and to (lefine transverse whanniihyroinniiiiiiriitingv with' saiil longilinlinzil winninrls. a runioi'ahlehnlkhcatl to aparatu ihr i'el'i'i} 'i'i'ziting` taiililfironi theh:ir\',' :tin .spin-e iliiring the 'lfrcezing' operation. :i hi'iiwvi'iri'nlaling system ini'hnling iihwzitahhi hoxcs wliir'li are(lisposetl in the innhls ainl upon whirh the ice hlocls arcl'i'oziin.:iinl means forransing a oirciilatinn nl' waii'r in tlni main tank.

;3. fin i'- making apparatiis comprising a main lanh having` awatercontaininr har- 'fvsing spin-e ;it one enil thereof, a refi'igeraling1anhI atuno side of the harvesting spamu platr tlisposoil longitndinallyin the i'rtrini'raiingz tank to form niold side Walls ainl ihifiningijintervening Channels between thi' nnihls ainl with whirh the niolis arein minninnii'alion, plates (lisposed transvcrsely ainl i'nniiivahli'hvtween the lnngitinlinal 'plaliis anil assui'iaterl in pairs to formniohl i'nii walls and to (lefine interi'ening Channels between theinolils,v h'ottoni phitos for the ninhlsl 'ai'i'anged in spaueclrelation to the floor of the refrigerating tank. the yspace innh'r tlii`hottorn plates being' in coininunication with the Spaces betwen thelongitinlinal and transverse plates, a removable and reniovahly ihnlkhe'afl to separate the refrigerat-ing tank from the hai'vcstingspace 'during the l're'ezingr operation. a hrine circulating systemincluding boxes' which are disposed i-n the moldz; and upon which theice blocks are frozen, and means for causing a circulation of water inthe main tank.

An ice making apparatus comprising:r a main tank` having a Watercontaining harveet-ing 'pace at one side thereof, a refrigerating tankat one side of. the harvesting space, aremovable bulkhead to separatethe refrigeratiug tank from the harvesting space during freezing, therefrigerating' tank being supplied with Water from the harvesting space,means for freezing ice blocks'in the refrigerating tank, and means forcausing' a circulat-ion of water in the refrigerating tank duringfreezing.

An ice making upparatus comprising a main tank tiiaving a watercontaining harvesting space at one side thereof, a refrig'erating tankat one side of the harvesting space, a movable hulkhead to separate therefrigerating tank from the harvesting space during freezing, therefrigerating tank being supplied with water from the harvesting space,means for freezing ice blocks in the refrigcrating tank, an ice blockconveyer in the harvesting space, and means for causing a circulation ofwaterv in the refrigerating tank during' freczing.

S. An ice nmking` apparatus including a r. \frigerating tank, aplurality of ice block mold arranged in alining rows thciein and spacedon all sides from one another, bottom plates for the molds spaced fromthe hottom of the tank, the space under the bottoni plates and theinterior spaces of the molds. communicating with the spaces between thevmoide the letter having removable :md having their side walls providedwith openings and With projeotions adjacent the opemngs to defiectcn'culatmg waterinto the mterior Spaces of the Inolds, and means for vcausing` the circulation of water through the several spaces aforesaid.

10. An ice making apparatus including a refrigerating tank, platesdisposed longitu- (linally in the tank to forni mold side Walls, moldend plates disposed transverselyof the longitudinal plates, the latterbeing associated in pai'rs to define intervoning longitudinal Channelsbetween themolds and hav-- ing openings to aiford communication betweenthe Channels and the interior mold spaces, means for causing acirculation of water through the channels and through the interior inoldspaces, and means for freezing the water in each mold space.

In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand lin presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

VJOHN B. HOWE.

Witnesses R. B. C. Howml., J. M. \Vn1'rs1r.f..

